Binghamton stumbled Friday night versus East Division rival the Hershey Bears falling 4-2. The B-Sens came out firing recording the first goal of the game just 32 seconds into the opening period when Jim O’Brien put home a bouncing puck off a rebound from a Derek Grant shot. Buddy Robinson doubled Binghamton’s lead at the 7:05 mark of the period, but the two tallies were all the B-Sens mustered up as the Bears went on to score four unanswered goals.

Hershey cut the lead to 2-1 when Tyson Strachan beat Binghamton net minder Nathan Lawson at 8:15 of the first. Josh Brittain tied the game up just over three minutes into the middle frame off a feed from David Kolomatis. Bears goaltender David Leggio shut the door on all 27 Binghamton shots attempted after the first period in route to his fourth win of the season. Nicolas Deschamps added two more tallies for Hershey giving them the regulation win and moving the B-Sens losing streak to a season-long three consecutive games.

Lawson finished with 24 saves on the night while Leggio earned the victory stopping 37 of the 39 shots faced. Strachan led the Bears offensively with a goal and two helpers while Deschamps added his second and third tallies on the year to give the Bears the win.

The B-Sens dropped its fourth consecutive decision in 3-2 shootout to the visiting Albany Devils. Andrew Hammond started between the pipes for Binghamton and played solid, but Albany’s Keith Kinkaid stifled 37 of 39 B-Sens shots including 14 in the overtime period to steal the bonus point for the visitors.

Harri Pesonen started things off for Albany 8:15 into the contest on a power-play goal off a great feed from center Kelly Zajac. Binghamton got the equalizer just over a minute into the second period when Jean-Gabriel Pageau took a perfect cross-crease feed from linemate Mark Stone and lifted it past an out of position Kinkaid for his sixth marker of the year. The B-Sens grabbed its first lead of the night at 14:48 of the period when Matt Puempel ripped home a power-play goal following great puck movement from defenseman Cody Ceci and forward Stephane Da Costa. The power-play tally marked the end of a 0 for 17 skid the B-Sens were on for the man advantage. However, Binghamton penalty trouble towards the end of the period gave the Devils a five on three advantage and Mike Sislo capitalized sending the teams to the final intermission knotted at 2-2.

Neither team found the back of the net in the final 20 minutes of play sending the contest to overtime. Binghamton received an early man advantage at 1:11 of the extra period when the Devils Dan Kelly was sent off for a tripping call. The B-Sens peppered Kinkaid with 14 shots through the short five minute period but the horn would buzz sending the game to a shootout. Andre Petersson was the lone Senator to make good on his shootout try while Joe Whitney and Artem Demkov converted their opportunities for the visitors giving the Devils the win.

Hammond finished with 24 saves for the evening falling for the second time this season in a shootout. Binghamton finished one for five on the power-play while Albany converted two of its seven chances.

Record: 14-7-0-2 (30 points)

Standings: Binghamton trails the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (14-6-1-2) by one point for the top spot in the East Division. Norfolk sits two points behind Binghamton for third place. Fourth place Syracuse has 25 points through 22 games played thus far while last place Hershey has compiled an 8-8-2-3 record good for 21 points.

THIS WEEK…

Wednesday, December 11 vs. Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals)– 7:05 p.m.
Binghamton will faceoff versus the Hershey Bears at home this Wednesday for the fifth of 10 total contests between the teams this season. The B-Sens will look to get even following the 4-2 loss on home ice they suffered this past Friday night.

Hershey is led offensively by forwards Casey Wellman and Jeff Taffe – both have produced seven goals and six assists this season.

Friday, December 13 @ Utica Comets(Vancouver Canucks)– 7:00 p.m.

The B-Sens travel to Utica Friday night to take on the Comets in the first of four meetings amongst the squads this year. Utica currently sits in last place in the North Division with a 6-14-1-1 record. Offensively they are led by center Pascal Pelletier (five goals, 13 assists) and right wing Benn Ferriero (nine goals, seven assists). Rookie goaltender Joacim Eriksson has appeared in 16 of Utica’s 22 contests registering a 4-10-1 record and a .895 save percentage.

Binghamton travels to Hershey Saturday night to face the Hershey Bears in their third meeting in eight days. Hershey is currently in last place in the East Division with an 8-8-2-3 record.

Promotions…

Wednesday the B-Sens will be hosting Wild Wild West Night when they take on the Hershey Bears. Individuals from the local group Shadows of the Old West will be on hand dressed in clothes from the Old West. There will be numerous displays around the main concourse with plenty of photo opportunities for fans to get their pictures taken with the historical characters. Three saddles will be set up along the concourse with one being used specifically for fans looking to get their photos taken. First intermission will feature a LIVE BULLWHIP DEMONSTRATION on ice for fans to enjoy. There will also be a bull riding display with belt buckles and Professional Bull Rider memorabilia.

SENS SNIPPETS…

Forward Derek Grant has compiled an assist in his first game back in Binghamton since his reassignment from Ottawa. Grant has two goals and an assist in five games this season with the B-Sens.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE (Practice times and locations are subject to change) …